Korak is the Honorable Jack Clayton, son of English Lord John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke, also known as Tarzan, lord of the jungle. He is the hero of a 1915/6 magazine serial and 1917 novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs and a 1920 silent movie serial, as well as a character in several other Tarzan stories from 1914 to 1924. He experienced a revival in 1964 as the star of his own comic book series and as a major character in various Tarzan comic books, pages, and strips from 1966 to 1978.
As depicted in the comic books, pages, and strips, Korak has a lean, athletic physique, broad shoulders and thin waist, almost no clothing, a cute, boyish face, and full, thick hair. He is also an intelligent, enthusiastic teen-aged boy with excellent natural instincts and a good heart.
Korak
strives to emulate his legendary father but lacks his strength,
maturity and experience. Therefore, he is both more likely to enter
into dangerous situations and more vulnerable to being defeated.
Korak in Sunday Tarzans (6/15/1975) |
As the star of his own comic book series in 1964, Korak is a capable, young hero. His adventures were somewhat similar to those of his father Tarzan, but independent from them.
Previous to this week's adventures, Korak is introduced to a new adventure by a couple in a balloon who reveal that they found the legendary elephants' graveyard. Finding
that his ankle is caught in the anchor rope, Korak quickly climbs up
and into the balloon with the couple, who show the son of Tarzan a
photograph of the site. Joining
the couple to their destination, Korak finds that the girl's father
does not appreciate her taste in boys. During the night, somebody
kidnaps the girl and steals one of the balloons. Korak finds the other balloon and joins the boyfriend in the chase. Unfortunately, they encounter a storm, and the balloon
is forced to land near the spot which the couple photographed. Korak
does not seem to believe that this is the elephants' graveyard.
However, the boyfriend's enthusiasm leads him to running towards it,
causing Korak to follow and resulting in their being surrounded by a group of female warriors riding prehistoric mammoths and armed with spears. Korak and the boyfriend are led away by the female warriors until they encounter another group of female warriors with spears. The
two groups of female warriors fight until one of the groups is
defeated. Then, the winning group continues to lead Korak and the
boyfriend through ominous cliffs into a castle
deep in the mountain wilderness. They are lifted by rope through a
high window and enter a strange hall. Then, they are led to a comfortable room, where they are offered food, drink, and companionship. The two groups of
female warriors fight again over Korak and the boyfriend. However,
they draw the unwanted attention of old Nliki, who guides the group to
the mysterious Hunlaka, who has monopolized the female warriors by
slaying all of the rival men. Hunlaka challenges Korak and the boyfriend to armed combat. Korak is fighting in his loincloth, armed with a small knife,
while Hunlaka is armored and carrying a long, broad sword.
This
week, Korak and the boyfriend's fight with the mysterious
Hunlaka is interrupted when the female warriors bring the girlfriend and her two captors into the hall. Hunlaka now challenges Korak, the boyfriend, and the two captors for the girlfriend. After quickly dispatching one of the captors, Hunlaka is shot by the other captor.
This week, Korak becomes a spectator in his own adventure, we the female warriors reintroduce the girlfriend and his two captors into the story.
Manning's artwork is wonderful. However, this week, viewers only get a long shot of Korak's lean, athletic physique in panel a, a distant side view in panel d, and a crowded look at his youthful face in panels b and c, and nothing in panels e through h.
Favorite scene: panel a
Previous blog:
Korak in Sunday Tarzans (6/8/1975)
This blog is intended to raise interest in and appreciation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs character Korak. To see this story in context, you may find it in Hillman's ERBzine at the following link:
This week's adventures can also be found at the following link(s):
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